It's 3:11pm on Tuesday and the hallways at Garton Elementary are quiet. In the lunch room ten young "Cool Cat" Ambassadors prepare a snack of bagels, cream cheese and juice for the 100+ students who in four minutes will rush through the doors like an ocean wave hitting the shore. The Ambassadors are indeed "cool", calm and collected as they prepare the attendance sheets, napkins and plastic spoons. They show a maturity, that if you are familiar with 21CCLC programs you may have come to expect, but is still impressive to witness firsthand.

On the wall inside the door hangs the Physical Literacy plan for the day. After enjoying snack and chatting with their friends after a hard day's work, students will grab their coats and head outside for some walking, kick ball, ropes, medicine balls or ladders to get the blood pumping and the body moving.

It's organized excitement. The students file out the door and explode into a sea of movement... but each and every student knows where their feet should take them. Within a minute or two there are four cohesive groups of active, engaged kids enjoying every second of the fresh air and sunshine.

Then begins round 2. Flushed cheeks and smiles march back into the classrooms to partake in one of many cool clubs Brandi Miller, 21CCLC Site Coordinator and her amazing staff have to offer. American Girl Doll Club enjoy a history filled story about Kirsten, a girl just about their age immigrating to the Midwest in the 1800's from Sweden, and proceed with the sewing of skirts for the soon-to-be-loved doll of their own. It's history lesson meets crafting and the girls couldn't be more pleased with their handiwork.

Zumba and dance is offered to the youngest of the bunch... Kindergarten and First Grade kids rock out in the gym.

Not one, but two Lego classes are offered afterschool at Garton. The older students work to build a robotic Lego creation that will solve the 2013-2014 Jr. First Lego League mission. They, along with many other Des Moines 21CCLC Lego clubs will showcase their genius in an exhibition next year.

Other rooms hold a cooking club teeming with kids quietly preparing Halloween treats to share. Technology allows math students access to online math challenges with thousands of other math teams around the world! 436th place nationwide... and gaining!

Taekwondo students sit patiently listening to their Sensei explain the expectations and discipline required for them to earn their first belt. Budding linguists practice their Spanish and "kiss their brain" when they succeed.

The kids leave on the bus happy and full to the brim with another great afterschool experience. Garton's definitely making afterschool cool!

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21CCLC

Des Moines Public Schools has been home to 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (21st CCLC) since 2007. The initiative provides academic programming, recreational enrichment, and family literacy to students and families at the following schools:

Brody River WoodsMorris SamuelsonGartonHillisMonroeMcKinleyKingCapitol ViewWillardTo date, more than 10,000 students have participated in 21CCLC programs!